Mission Statement

Monday, July 7, 2008

Oh my name is Skippito FriskitoMy 23 things are complete-oIt was such a joyto learn the new toysI will blog till I drop dead-ito!

I can honestly say this inservice is my favorite of the decade! Sorry-a class on guide reading groups is number 1. I discovered many new tools that I will assist others in implementing in the classroom, as I don't have a homeroom. I loved the trading cards as an assignment but the Ning as way of collaborating with colleagues. Library2Play pushed me to learn about something I was uncomfortable with in a nonthreatening way. It reminded me always to learn something new-a habit I was falling out of. I was surprised to learn that I am not always a 'collaborator'. I can and do often communicate with others however it is for specific information. This is a mind set that has in the past served me well but alias times change and so do I.I needed more help on some bigger things like RSS, Rollyo and podcasting. My attempts to overachieve were foiled. Perhaps offering a link for 'Library2Play Dummies' would be helpful. Or maybe a private Ning-where questions could be asked. I will continue to pursue more training in this area. I am less knowledgeable, but desirous of the content. Bring it on!!!My phrase would be mind boggling!

Nings-This might have been a better spot for me to start the blog idea. I found some of the insights at www.teacherlingo.com to informative. I made an actual second blog. I can't believe it. Skippyjohn here has jumped off the deep end. As for work use, I definitely see it as a great tool for committees and a forum for the beginning part of a discussion or follow-up for that matter to training I do. It will take some time for me to adjust to communicating this way but I think since I mastered the email, I can do this too!

This was the hardest thing I have ever done. I think my labor with both children was less than it took me to complete this assignment. Like the RSS, the directions were...not there. I tried so hard to do the best project and I ran into problem after problem. So I ended up with this mediocre work. It is exactly what I hope the kids never do...settle just to complete the task. I am finally finished after many, many, many hours. I sure hope someone enjoys it.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Here are my 2 videos. I thought they would be fun for others as they were not too serious. I can see value in finding presentations already done for inservices as well as material for children. Certainly propaganda is worth exploring at YouTube. We want the kids to be critical thinkers and to make good decisions about this kind of information.

While I have continually professed not enjoying many things about computers, Pandora seems to be the big aha! Finally a radio station for me!!! I have created my profile and I an busy filling it for free. Of course, I won't listen while I am work or my name is not Skippyjon Jones. I enjoyed picking my own music-Led Zepplin, Johnny Cash and Melissa Etheridge to name a few. Then they also named some similar artists. I might actually stay current in music now. Unbelievable!As to work and the library, well there all I can say is a happy Skippyjon is a productive Skippyjon. I like the idea that I could share this with others so maybe for an inservice we could get to know our favs in music.

Friday, July 4, 2008

At first I wondered why mess with something that just now is familiar to me? I can whip out a presentation with powerpoint and I easily navigate in word. Actually I hated changing from my apple to a pc. With that said I ventured out of my comfort zone (skippy into the closet) and tried it. Wow- I liked the Impress and the Writer! I have to do 3 inservices in August and I think I will use Impress. I had trouble with powerpoint and often had to be guided to find something new or exciting. Some how with this I found choices simply by reading what was in front of me. I actually was changing how the slide came across the screen. whoo hoo my tech friends will be relieved-no more interruptions! It might be as user friendly as my apple was. The writer had the feature I use most and it was just as simple -tables. I need more instruction on all there is with Writer,esp. theme and sound (!). It looks interesting. I am still wondering why they came out with this? Or rather why did Microsoft not do it?

Rollyo was difficult until I reread some stuff about it. The biggest challenge for me was not setting it up, but figuring out what I wanted. I did find some interesting articles for my August inservice. However, I still want to understand Rollyo better. Am I saving sites? Or am I saving the source of the article? I am unclear. I tried again and I discovered I search those sites for what ever I put in. Aha!!! I must be near the end as I can answer my own questions and my brain is beeeg now!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Well finally one 'thing' that really thrills me. I am Skippyjon jumping happily on the trampoline. While I am trained for the activ board, this to me is easier. I much prefer this knowledge to the blogs idea. (I am not really acknowledging it as real, am I?)I am starting to get a positive feeling about collaboration. I just need my old brain to function in the new world around me. I just don't need a Mama Junebug Jones to send me to my room to think about being a Siamese cat and not a chihuahua.The wonderful thing is that we could do so much with this and differentiation! I think when assignments include necessary information this becomes an excellent way to break up responsibility. Kids could do different projects based upon their level of expertise. Wow-writing at their individual levels. Think this model to be inclusion for spec ed kiddos. Unbelievable!I am thinking I must explore this as a tool for writing. Maybe I can put together an inservice on Writing and Wikis. Perhaps even using the Yackpack. I will need technical assistance-no wait I can do this. I am Skippyjon jones! Think that sounds good? Respond....

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wow-how frightening was this assignment. It is like I have stepped into Calvin's world where everything is possible until you go off the cliff. I am currently midair!

The video left me cynical a bit. Sort of the way Calvin felt when the raccoon died. Or like Skippyjon when he is rolled in the tortilla. My father would say this is why the country is going to---- in a hand basket. (I have yet to understand that fully). Children need to reading and thinking. He and I are probably the same in that we are not trusting of the Internet. Knowledge is a powerful tool but one still needs capable hands to use it.

It totally made me scared when I thought of the rewritten LA TEKS and how out dated they are. I will now be looking to the librarian to save the children from continued brain cell losses.

The other reading assignments encouraged me to see this in a more positive light. I read 'More Powerful...' and "To temp place in time...' The history and the positive interaction with a resourceful person was encouraging.

Just as an aside, I went to the Houston Public Library to retrieve the stuffed monkey (Knuffle Bunny) we left from our visit the previous day. We arrived at 10:03. Already many folks were there on the computer checking emails and-yes blogs! It was fascinating to see that the library is not a dead zone. It has evolved into a place where knowledge was swirling about. I was allowed to drink my coffee and converse with others. Children roamed freely reading and yes, they too were talking and this time about books. There is hope for Random House Publishing to survive.

Hip hip hooray for the library! It has come a long way baby...I hope that our school puts in a coffee bar. A little caffeine never hurt anyone and it does me a lot of good.

The first video I watched about Technorati was interesting in 2 aspects. First it was clear and not too much. More importantly, I understood the terms that were being used. There is hope for me!!!

As I watched the second video I realized the power that is out there. I was borderline frightened at how easily someone could get wrong information or misunderstand the information they are receiving. I often see bumper stickers about the 'liberal media'-well this is beyond that. As a teacher of reading, I am so frightened at the prospect of children looking at information without a critical eye. This makes me realize this is huge in implications for reading. Simple questions regarding plot of the story are now even more meaningless if the student is unable to think about reading material more critically.

The last piece made me think critically about the tag issue. While I am not a blogger-yet- I can see the importance of who is tagging. This could easily be abused. Again I am wondering how I will teach the skills needed to discern fact from fiction and critical reading to my now 6 year old.

Any thoughts about how teachers can use blogs to teach reading skills or how to impress upon a 6 year old the questioning thinking they need to have when they read?Well I tried Technorti and actually they were having 'hiccups' so I really looked around. I need to review the movie again just to work on my purposeful moving and not freak mistakes. Looking for school library... was interesting. Everytime I used search on a different page I came up with something new. Once there were 1700+ then I think I went to blogs or tags and got it down to 15. I need more work.I did sign up my blog and I will be interested if there is any response. I truely doubt it, but you never know. I am still pleading for more discussion on this genre and how it works in other schools and in other homes. I know my child will be blogging before he can do double digit subtraction.

Saturday, June 28, 2008

After watching the video from del.icio.us twice, I finally got the idea behind it. I can see this as very useful in doing research with kids. I am not sure I am prepared to have 8 year olds looking for info and tagging it however. The biggest challenge for me is switching to this idea of community learner. I saw how practical everything is but I am just not a sharer. I have difficulty collaborating on inservices, let alone research etc. As my choice of characters suggest, I am out on my own.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Two wonderful ideas were to:invite comments and add humor. I find myself to be humorous, as Skippyjon finds himself to be a chihuahua, and that did seem to spark the most comments on my blog. My previous post included a question-who would have guessed I internalized the ettiquette from just consumption (CCP on the mind). Strangely I believe I have commented, at least in my mind, that this would be a 'summer thing' but I am always wondering if someone has commented. I am going to amp up my next postings so I get more comments.

I went to others to comment on their blogs-wow some are even finished with all of them! It was hard because I picked ones I knew the "owner" of and I could get personal but then others would not understand. I will work on it.

Okay going to the unknown to comment was scary to say the least. I have no doubt they will be viewed as meaningless babble, like knuffle bunny. Good thing I put that I am skippyjohn. I can hardly wait for my comment on the Astros by Skippyjon. I am still experiencing the blog issue of webpage and blog. I think I have a blog but it is a webpage. Hopefully I will get this down by the end of this course. Also the people who I thought might have blogs don't. Man that seemed weird. They seem so out spoken. Perhaps I am not searching correctly. I also realized I need to become more interested in what others-beside my therapist-have to say.

I found this to be a fabulous site! There were blogs I thought I might like to read more-I read 3 different ones! I listed my books and from my recent rantings you could guess a few of the titles. However, all that said I must plea again for more hours. To do this right-which I am trying-this takes an enormous amount of time. What was the new book on your list? Mine was Peanut-marvelous for inferences!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

I loved playing with this. I feel like Skippy in the first book or Olivia. I just had to try this stuff. Of course, I still feel I need more continuing education hours!

Finally there is hope for the Christmas card! Send me address and I will prove to you I can get them out before 2009....

Of course you can tell I still need to tweak as Olivia did with the lipstick... I liked the site called Scrapbook and Comic generator. I went to comic generator first and put in my picture then I click on generate and added the caption as well as the frame. scrapbook. For the comic I selected the comic and added my text-it took some finesse with the font (just a few lessons ago I would have said print instead of font-yeah me!)size. I added theimage below because I forgot how I did it. It is going to take me several more to get the exact steps down but being a cat who things he is a dog , this should not surprise anyone.

Well I tried my best to explain and in doing so I lost many things but I also figured more out about my blog...good night!

This blog thing presumes I want others opinions. Well I don't think Skippy and Olivia do so I guess that is why I am not getting it. I did finally find some interesting ones but only because I stumbled on to a site that listed blogs. I tried searching with the Google engine and I was moderately sucessful. I manged to attach them to my reader (I had difficulty remembering where to put it after I finally found it.). Thank goodness some sites gave directions. That little icon thing -well forget that-cut and paste baby!

Some people I know enjoy reading this information(?) but I really don't. I do have to admit, however, I do like giving my opinion. Adios

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Okay-RSS-this is neat because the info comes to you. I did it through Google so now I am completely overwhelmed by them. However I will say, nothing and I mean nothing, will take the place of sitting outside with my cup of joe reading the newspapers and even the ads. Furthermore I am now thinking about my young kids and the advice I give parents: Let your children see you read. This one of the great motivators for young kids to want to read. And now they will see their parents always on the computer. Will they know when it is work and when it is play? Will it take away from them? I just saw the American Psychiatric Assoc acknowledges the addiction of the internet. Hmmm...shouldn't some right wing group suggest we remove the internet from schools? Also they (APA) suggests you do not send send or access this info through your phone as this is a sign of internet addiction. I also just purchased a scanner so I could cut out articles and send them to people-don't know if that is legal but my 85 year old mom does it. (Again the apple does not fall far from the tree). I also realized I am not ready to be consumed by the enormous hours one could loose being on the internet. I am wondering how Dr. Healy of Endangered Minds views this internet obsession that is happening. As for my school use, once I find some more things to subscribe to I think I will make it completely devoted to that. I think libraries could definitely set up something to keep little eyes looking at appropriate news and entertainment sites. My children want their mommy back so adios!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

This is after 2 days of playing with the Google site...(Perhaps I can get more continuing education hours? )I tried the iGoogle (took three times to type correctly-all the new grammar books about capitals in the middle of words are now wrong-ugh!). I have now added Calvin and Hobbes to it. I really think that might become my middle name. What do you think? I also went to the calendar. I am perplexed by the need of our society to over organize itself. Perhaps if we remembered more, our brain cells might last longer. Just food for thought. I noticed my email account with Yahoo just did this too. I am wondering if some power is telling me something and I my "inbox in my head" is over the limit. I also found the 4 day work week to be great! How do I get the school board to go for it? This is a poem. I have not shared with any one. I am looking for feedback. I am doing it in GoogleDoc (Did you notice I did not use it as a verb and I did capitalize it? WhooHoo for me!) http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=drvdj2r_3cqwjb36zThis will be very handy as I need to do presentations for the staff at my school. Now I can collaborate better. Perhaps I should share the DDI Jeopardy I made. Hmmm...I could spend another 100 million hours on this but I am not sure I want to miss my youngest pottying in the toilet for the first time.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Okay the rantings continue! I posted a note to VWB-only to figure out I am okay I think in what I have used. However if anyone knows what a "nad" is or how to respond to a comment by others, please give me the directions. I apparently missed the vocabulary lesson-must have been in time out!

This is now my current thought (and photo from Flickr which I know I can use) about this adventure into cyberspace. There is a new thought for the next book. Skippyjon Jones Goes to Outerspace. Right now I feel like he did when he was rolled up in his tortilla. Or maybe I feel like Olivia staring at the art work she did not understand. For those in SBISD, I can only hope the Robin Hood plan falls away and I get some therapy. Hmm...Anyway that is all of this hair raising adventure

This is to VWB-I am an infant at this. What is a "nad"? This is what my picture was listed under-We found 7 results matching olivia and pig, with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License[x]. As I read everything, I felt like I was taking physics again! Please let me know if I did right~skippyjon

OMG! I am in heaven. Here I was working on a photo album for my youngest little skippy when I found this sight-Big Huge Labs and also all the other places. Now I must rethink my projects for the summer. As for work-well no more of those icky written projects that were not required anyway. I can also see me going overboard and needing to remember kids need to learn to write as well. Hmm...that is food for thought~

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I see great pictures but I am a bit confused by the tags. I understand the concept but because I did not post anything, I was a little lost. I tried many searches and I found not as many pictures as I had hoped. This seemed impossible when I started, however, it maybe that I wanted copyright protected pictures. This is the one I found. This is a metaphor for me and this site. Not quite right but close.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Wow! Adding an Avatar was a challenge. I am unsure how I got it there but every now and then I get lucky. I think I will probably have to add another or change this one because I did not feel confident doing it. How about anyone else?

Friday, June 6, 2008

I am a highly effective person but not according to this criteria. I think I will just work on number 7 1/2. Perhaps when we recouperate some of the Robin Hood money, the district could pay for therapy for all whose self confidence has fallen out as a result of all the technology. I would be happy to bring treats.

About Me

I am a mom of two wild little boys, who would be Skippyjon Jones if they could. In reality, they are like Olivia the Pig. I always remember what an old wise teacher told me once...An apple does not fall far from the tree.
I am wife to a man who keeps me sane and supports my indulgences.